Suspect: Drugs, Lack Of Money Led To Lauderdale Robbery Spree

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Gary Ryan O`Neal said he robbed banks and thrifts because he and his fiancee were out of money and cocaine.

The $6,000 that police are accusing him of stealing didn`t last long.

O`Neal, 38, a self-described cocaine addict, was charged with three counts of armed robbery on Wednesday after a taxi driver recognized his picture from a newspaper article and called police.

He also was charged in a warrant with failing to appear in court in August 1986 on a cocaine distribution charge.

``I`m kind of glad it`s over,`` O`Neal said on Thursday at police headquarters. ``I never wanted to hurt anybody, and I didn`t.``

O`Neal is accused of robbing a Carteret Savings branch at 2515 E. Sunrise Blvd. on June 12, an Atlantic Federal Savings and Loan branch at 1331 SE 17th St. on July 1 and the Federal Financial Bank at 2636 E. Sunrise Blvd. on July 31.

``We were out of money and cocaine,`` O`Neal said. ``I just thought I`d give it a shot. It was a piece of cake.

``I just wanted to do three banks. I told myself, `I`ll do three and then quit.` ``

In each of the robberies, O`Neal approached tellers and opened a checkbook that contained a message spelled out with letters cut from newspapers and magazines, police said.

``This is a holdup, all large bills & 20s wrapped and no one will be hurt,`` the message read.

The checkbook and its message led to O`Neal`s downfall. When O`Neal and his fiancee were evicted from the townhouse they were renting, he left the checkbook behind.

The landlord gave it to police. Detective Don McCawley, a robbery unit investigator, used it to identify O`Neal and released a picture of him to the media last week.

On Wednesday, a cabdriver in the 3000 block of Northeast 32nd Avenue recognized O`Neal`s picture after he flagged him down outside a restaurant. The cabbie already had a fare, but he told O`Neal that he would be right back. He drove to a phone instead and summoned police.

After arresting O`Neal, investigators searched his motel room and found a toy pistol loaded with paper caps. O`Neal said he bought the gun before the first burglary but decided not to use it.

The bank money and the drugs it purchased are gone, O`Neal said.

On Thursday, O`Neal looked tired as he sat in an interrogation room and smoked a cigarette at police headquarters. His eyes were puffy. He said it was from lack of sleep and cocaine.

O`Neal, who is also known as Gary Ryan Crowley, said he used to make good money selling message beepers and cellular car phones. He lost his job about five months ago as cocaine took control of his life.

Now the bank robbery charges, and the prospect of a long prison sentence, are finishing the job.

``We were going to start over,`` O`Neal said, taking a long, hungry drag from his cigarette. ``My fiancee and I were going to move to the Keys.``

Then he gave a soft, hollow laugh.

``We were going to change our names and wait for the statute of limitations to run out,`` he said. ``It doesn`t matter now.``